“Worse still, as not only careless, but wicked, is the slander which gossips away a character in an afternoon, and runs lightly over a whole series of acquaintances, leaving a drop of poison on them all, some suspicion, or some ominous silence – ‘Have you not heard? – ‘No one would believe it, but - !’ and then silence; while the shake of the head, or the shrug of the shoulders, finishes the sentence with a mute meaning worse than words. Do you ever think of the irrevocable nature of speech? The things you say are often said for ever. You may find, years after your light word was spoken, that it has made a whole life unhappy, or ruined the peace of a household. It was well said by St. James, ‘If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, that man’s religion is vain’.”
STOPFORD BROOKE
“Beware of that bane of social life, evil speaking. Pray for the spirit of love, which is the spirit of truth – for you can never know anyone without sympathy or love, and take care how you speak of those you have not yet learned to love. Never talk of others’ faults, without necessity, and avoid those who do.”
“If there is any person to whom you feel dislike, that is the person of whom you ought never to speak.”
R. CECIL
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